New- look Fire outdone in opener
Mix Diskerud scored the eventual game winner in the 63rd minute, and New York City FC beat the Fire 4- 3 on Sunday at Toyota Park in a wild affair in the Major League Soccer season opener for both teams
NYCFC’s Thomas McNamara scored the first goal in spectacular fashion in the 10th minute, taking a feed from Khiry Shelton at the top of the penalty area and curling it into the upper corner. Nine minutes later, Fire midfielder Razvan Cocis evened it on a brilliant run. Tony Taylor and Shelton added goals to give NYCFC a 3- 1 advantage at the break.
After intermission, the Fire’s Kennedy Igboananike scored off a turnover and pass from David Accam in the 49th minute. But Diskerud restored the two- goal lead in the 63rd, beating Matt Lampson near- post.
Accam wrapped up the scoring on a penalty kick after a hand ball on Shelton.
Nine players made their Fire debuts, the most in a single game since the team’s expansion season in 1998.
“This is just the beginning of our philosophy — even though we lost, we wanted to do more,’’ Accam said. ‘‘ These young players will learn and will hopefully improve for the next games.’’